Editorial: Debate already, Mr. Cuomo

Editorial: Debate already, Mr. Cuomo

To not debate sends a message that elections are, for Mr. Cuomo, about nothing more than the power of big money, something he has said he wants to diminish in politics. At last report, Mr. Cuomo had 29 times more money in his campaign accounts than his four challengers combined — $9.2 million compared with Republican Marcus Molinaro's $210,000; Serve America Movement's Stephanie Miner's $55,000; the Green Party's Howie Hawkins' $31,000, and Libertarian Larry Sharpe's $24,000. With that kind of lopsided wealth, Mr. Cuomo can simply drown out what little advertising his opponents can afford.

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THE ISSUE:

The governor has yet to agree to even one debate.

THE STAKES:

Will voters hear only the best political messages money can buy?

Debates are such a fundamental part of the American political process that it seems almost unthinkable that Gov. Andrew Cuomo would deprive New York voters of one in his bid for a third term. Yet here we are, three weeks before the election, with not a single gubernatorial debate in sight, because the incumbent has so far not accepted any debate proposal.

The political wisdom is that Mr. Cuomo, who once said government is "not a debating society," has nothing to gain from sharing a stage with his challengers. It would only give them free publicity, elevate them to political peers with ideas worthy of consideration alongside his and open him to their criticisms face to face. Who needs that, right?

Well, New Yorkers do. And so does Mr. Cuomo — that is, if he wants to show voters that he really means what he says when he talks about good government and fair elections.

To not debate sends a message that elections are, for Mr. Cuomo, about nothing more than the power of big money, something he has said he wants to diminish in politics. At last report, Mr. Cuomo had 29 times more money in his campaign accounts than his four challengers combined — $9.2 million compared with Republican Marcus Molinaro's $210,000; Serve America Movement's Stephanie Miner's $55,000; the Green Party's Howie Hawkins' $31,000, and Libertarian Larry Sharpe's $24,000. With that kind of lopsided wealth, Mr. Cuomo can simply drown out what little advertising his opponents can afford.

So what many voters will hear of the candidates if there is no debate is only what the campaigns want people to hear — the spin, the sound bites, the well-rehearsed talking points — rather than answers to hard questions posed on voters' behalf. There will be no exchange of ideas to readily compare one with another, no opponents to call the candidates out on the weaknesses of their arguments, no moderator to note the contradictions in their records.

To not debate also cynically capitalizes on, and feeds, the political polarization that Mr. Cuomo and so many other politicians decry. It's a strategy that seeks to keep voters in the political and ideological silos in which so many people isolate themselves these days in their choices of information, news, and social media circles. Why even hear an opposing point of view? Why even listen to a candidate from a party you're not enrolled in?

When you come down to it, elections are job interviews. In this case, the job is for chief executive of New York state government, and the voters are the board of directors. No responsible board would interview just one candidate for so important a position, and no credible candidate would presume to tell a board not to interview anyone else. In not consenting to debate, though, that's essentially what Mr. Cuomo is saying to New Yorkers.

Or would be saying to them, if he doesn't agree to debate. There is still time for him to do this right and to walk his lofty talk.